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Story: Nelson region

Powelliphanta snail shells

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<em>Powelliphanta</em> snail shells

The Golden Bay Museum in Tākaka has one of the country’s largest collections of Powelliphantashells. The stronghold of these carnivorous land snails is in north-west Nelson and on the northern West Coast, where most of the species are found. The largest species is Powelliphanta superba prouseorum (middle), which measures about 90 mm across and is found in Kahurangi National Park. Collecting Powelliphanta shells has been illegal since 1982.

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Golden Bay Museum

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Nelson region – Climate and environment, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28810/powelliphanta-snail-shells (accessed 23 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 3 September 2010, updated 1 August 2015.